Edge of the Dark // Noa Olivar

xi. consequences

"Maybe we should tell Karen's dad." Imogen proposed during the group call.

"The sheriff?" Noa asked with concern, and she instantly tried shutting that idea down. "No."

"I'm with Noa." Faran agreed. "The text from A was a warning to keep our mouths shut. Whoever the fuck A is."

"The guys in the mask that Imogen saw." Tabby replied, glancing at her friend who was sitting beside her. "That we've all seen."

"You guys what if Karen's didn't frame us?" Imogen asked, finally putting out the thought that was eating away at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we assumed Karen put the razor blades in her shoes, the rat in her bag, the email, but what if she didn't?" Imogen threw out there, biting down on her look with worry. "What if A put the razor blades in the shoes knowing we'd get back at Karen?"

"So, A has been messing with us from the beginning?" Mouse asked.

"No — no. Karen was a bully, just like the text from A said." Faran confirmed, trying to reassure them and herself. "Imogen, you saw her up in the rafters with a bucket, and when Sheriff Beasley and the cops find it up there, they'll assume that Karen was planning to pull a 'Carrie' on you, and she fell. That it was an — an accident."

"How do we even know that the bucket's still up there?" Joey asked, thinking back to everything that's happened and especially to what Imogen just told them — her theory. "If Imogen's right and A did all that to Karen knowing we'd get back at her then how do we know he didn't just take the bucket with him?"

The silence that followed on the group call was eerie, if anything. It left the girls second guessing everything for a solid minute, but there had to be someone who pulled them out of their thoughts, so Tabby cut in, "Okay, how about we just stick to what we know for now."

"What? Like how Karen was pushed by A." Imogen voiced, arms stretched over her body.

"That's even more reason to keep the fuck quiet." Noa advised them.

"Yep."

"If we do what A asks, maybe it'll all be okay." Mouse thoughtfully inputted.

"Let's hope," Tabby sighed, truly wanting to believe what Mouse was thinking, "we'll see what happens at school."

"Night."

"Bye."

After the call was over, Joey went straight to the couch and Noa didn't protest on the matter. She laid on the couch, drawing a spare blanket over her body and attempted to go to sleep, but with every toss or turn that prompted, she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep.

Nevertheless, Joey kept her eyes closed, praying that at some point during the night she would pass out and wake up the following morning, but as the minutes turn to an hour later, she opened them back up and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes dashed over to Noa's door which was ajar.

Joey sat up on the couch, pulling the blankets over her shoulder and deciding to check up on her. She slowly made her way over to the door, avoiding any of the tiles that would creak under her foot and pushing the door open a little.

She wanted to make sure Noa was safe — which of course she was safe! Why wouldn't she be? The front door is the only way inside and Joey hadn't heard or seen anybody enter, so there was no reason to believe Noa was in danger. She rolled her eyes at her stupidity and went to close the door, but a soft voice kept her frozen in place.

"I told you so." Noa mumbled, resting her elbows along her soft mattress to lean forward and see the girl. "You can't sleep, right?"

Joey shook her head, but she realized Noa might not even be able to see her fully with the darkness surrounding them so she added, "Not really. Your guys' couch feels rough and scratchy. Honestly, I think I feel a rash coming in."